Tour the Impossibly Cute Hobbiton Movie Set in New Zealand

Tolkien fanatics: Just outside the small town of Matamata, you can visit the actual Hobbiton set featured in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit film trilogies. Get a sneak peek here.

Photo by: Hobbiton Movie Set Tours
Just outside the small town of Matamata, you can visit the actual Hobbiton set featured in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit film trilogies. The permanent attraction features 44 hobbit holes and The Green Dragon Inn, a working pub serving up hobbit-inspired drinks like Girdle Fine Ale, Sackville Cider, Oak Barton Ale and Southfarthing Ginger Ale.

The Hobbit: The
Desolation of Smaug – the second film in director Peter Jackson’s three-part
series based on J. R. R. Tolkien’s 1937 novel – opens in theaters Dec. 13. While
protagonist Bilbo Baggins will be on an adventure far away from his homeland of
The Shire, you could be there, strolling through hobbit holes or sipping a drink at The Green Dragon. Located on a working
New Zealand sheep farm, the Hobbiton movie set is open year-round for guided
tours.

Tour the Hobbiton Movie Set

Jackson spotted Alexander Farm during an aerial search of
the North Island, and he thought its rolling meadows and fantastic views made
it a perfect spot to build the set of The Shire. Construction started in March
of 1999, and 37 hobbit holes, a mill and a double-arch bridge were built over the course of
nine months. Filming of The Lord of the
Rings trilogy started in December 1999, and at its peak, 400 cast and crew
members were working on site, including actors Sir Ian McKellen (Gandalf),
Elijah Wood (Frodo) and Sir Ian Holm (Bilbo).

While the original Hobbiton set was mostly dismantled, it
was rebuilt in 2011 for The Hobbit
trilogy – this time as a permanent attraction. The latest addition is The Green
Dragon Inn, a working pub serving up hobbit-inspired drinks like Girdle Fine
Ale, Sackville Cider, Oak Barton Ale and Southfarthing Ginger Ale.

Check out the gallery above to get a glimpse at the
Hobbiton movie set – Tolkien fan or not, you’ll be longing for a trip to this
picturesque spot. Go to HobbitonTours.com to book your visit.